Systems, methods and protocols for securing data in transit over networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and protocols are described for securing data in transit over networks. A communication session is initiated between a client and a server. One or more communication channels can be set up between the client and the server. Each established communication channel may have zero or more intermediary nodes that are selected by the client or by the server to process information exchanged between the client and the server via the communication channels.

1. A method for setting up a communication channel, connecting a client and a server via intermediary nodes, based on a routing metric, the method comprising:
 receiving a routing metric characterizing the communication channel; 
 analyzing routing parameters specified in the routing metric; 
 determining a current hop in the communication channel based on a hop list pointer in the routing parameters; 
 connecting to a destination node of the current hop; 
 incrementing the hop list pointer to produce an updated routing metric; 
 terminating if the current hop reaches an end of the communication channel; and 
 sending, if the current hop is not a last hop of the communication channel, the updated routing metric to the destination node of the current hop to set up a remaining hop in the communication channel. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for tearing down a communication channel connecting a client and a server via zero or more intermediary nodes, the method comprising:
 receiving a tear-down signal requesting to tear down a communication channel wherein a hop in the communications channel is determined based on a hop list pointer in routing parameters of a routing metric, a connection is made to a destination node of the hop, and the hop list pointer is incremented to produce an updated routing metric; 
 propagating, starting from a source node, the tear-down signal downstream from the source node representing a first node of the communication channel to a destination node representing a last node of the communication channel; 
 tearing down a current hop between a current node and a next node of the communication channel; and 
 terminating, if the current hop reaches the end of the communication channel. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said tearing down a current hop includes:
 disconnecting the current node and the next node of the current hop. 
 
     
     
       4. A non-transitory machine-accessible medium encoded with a program for setting up a communication channel, connecting a client and a server via zero or more intermediary nodes, based on a routing metric, the program, when accessed, causing:
 receiving a routing metric characterizing the communication channel; 
 analyzing routing parameters specified in the routing metric; 
 determining a current hop in the communication channel based on a hop list pointer in the routing parameters: 
 connecting to a destination node of the current hop; 
 incrementing the hop list pointer to produce an updated routing metric; 
 terminating if the current hop reaches an end of the communication channel; and 
 sending, if the current hop is not a last hop of the communication channel, the updated routing metric to the destination node of the current hop to set up a remaining hop in the communication channel. 
 
     
     
       5. A non-transitory machine-accessible medium encoded with program for tearing down a communication channel, connecting a client and a server via one or more intermediary nodes, the program, when accessed, causing:
 receiving a tear-down signal requesting to tear down a communication channel wherein a hop in the communications channel is determined based on a hop list pointer in routing parameters of a routing metric, a connection is made to a destination node of the hop, and the hop list pointer is incremented to produce an updated routing metric; 
 propagating, starting from a source node, the tear-down signal downstream from the source node representing a first node of the communication channel to a destination node representing a last node of the communication channel; 
 tearing down a current hop between a current node and a next node of the communication channel; and 
 terminating, if the current hop reaches the end of the communication channel. 
 
     
     
       6. The non-transitory medium according to  claim 5 , wherein said tearing down a current hop comprises:
 disconnecting the source node and the destination node of the current hop.